Said ander



C. D. UGSBE Paened June 30,1891.

.(No Mod-e1.) y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. C. D. SGSBE-E, T. S. HAYWARD 8: P. S. ANEERSCN. ELECTRIC CURRENT REGULATOR OR RHECSTAT.

N07, 454,969. PatntedJuna 30, 1891.

tact f, which constitutes a terminal of the l 5o arm g of the switch-key, the parts being so tra,-..

i. ceases readily understood by those skilled in the art. The variation, however, will be found to be f much more gradual and regular than in prior devices, making the most minute variations 5 possible, and at the same time the mass does wnot get out of shape when the-position of the barrel is changed, nor is 'there danger that. any portion of it will escape from the barrel and injure the contacts, create dirt,or injure ro the device, as might happen if the mass were comminnted.

Inthe mechanical construction of the device we locate one of the contact-plates C i n the bottom of the barrel and the other at the t 5 open end, and over this we placca compressorplate D, preferably ot' non-conductingrna# terial, and in the present instance having a central stud or conductor (l, adapted to contact with the plate C below and with the cornzo' pressingscrew E above. The plate is made, of non-conducting material tov prevent any short-circuiting should the screw be withdrawn and the plate come in contact with a switch or a stud i, arranged to arrest it'. z5 The compressing-screw E passes through a cross-plate or bridge E', held by the barrel and preferably employed to support the switch mechanism controlling the passage the current shall take through the device. 3o The switch referred to may be of any ordinary construction, adapted simply to malte or break the circuit leading from the resistance to one of the lamp-Wires; but in the preferred construction it notonly permits the circuit 3 5 passing through the resistance to be made or brokembut by a single continuous movement to complete said circuit or cnt the-resistance out entirely. To' carry this idea into etect, thel contact F, constituting the terminal ot 4o the lamp-nire, is located at' the end of the barrel in position tobe engaged by the springarm F' on the bridge-piece when moved outward by the arm g of the key G, and on'the opposite side of the barrel is located a conbranch'of the leading-in Wire passing to the bottom plate C. 'I his lastfrnentioned con- 'tact f is in position to be engaged bythe spring-arm f', when moved outward by the positioned relative to each other as that the 'spring-arm F is first moved out and the circuit completed through the resistance before the'circuit is completed through the branch terminal j", the result being, as before stated,

that bye single movement of a keythe eircuit may be first made through the resistance and then the resistance cutout. The springarxns F' f are preferably formed in a single 6o piece attached to the under side of the bridge, and the arm on the key is provided with a relatively long operative face, with a slight depression g2 therein to constitute a retainer for holding "uid key in position with the circuit made through the resistaucemedimn.

As one of the objects of the invention is to form an extremely compact device with the parte firmly united, the location, relative srrangement, and construction of the parts is important.' Thus it will be seen that both the contacts F f are located in recesses in the walls of the barrel, and to malte proper circuit connections with these contacts they the case may be.

The construction of the connector-plates is such that they are capable of a longitudinal movement without interrupting the circuit, thereby permitting connections t-o be made without difficulty, but iu order to prevent excessive longitudinal movement the ends vof the lower strips are bent inward and enter depressions in thewall' of the-barrel, besides serving as a ready means for making ccnnectio'ns between one 'of the leading-iu Wires and v'ing-in Wires or lamp wires or connections, as

the bottom plate C, as will be seen in Fig. 4.

A recess is formed in each edge, extending Way around the side oppositetthe terminals F f, and in this is located a connecting-strip I for completing electrical connection of the leading-in wire passing straight through the device, said strip being provided with arms f similar to 4those on the terminals just me n in place by centrally arranged clampingbands L5, having depressions therein, into which project the flanges or rims c on the casing, and themselves held. in position by a bridge N3, covered by a cap-piece N at one side, which serves as a covering and protector for the terrninals'of the leading-in Wires, and at the opposite side by a cap-piece N', which alsoservcs as a cover for'the lamp-socket O, a sheet of mica 'n orother non-conductor heing interposed between the tivo to--pre'vcnt electrical contact.

ThesocketOis formed ofacylindrical piece, provided with cut-out portions o at the upper end to prevent all possibility* of a short circuit, the section of material from one of said cutbutportions beingbontiuwardand slotted or perforated for the reception ofthe screwhead h to multe the proper electrical connection with the socket.

A pair-of springerms P o rfother equiva-A IIO inslightly diierent planes, due to the differof connection with the connector-strip a piece that en t escrewhcing in the form of a handmeny ,modifications end uses other than herewitn a distant lamp or other device, the cir- -from the rheostat terminal to the branch-line cned to the Wall or other support.

nectedf'dircctly with the line, is looseand has s545369 o i lentv connecting 'mechanism for the centra-l lamp terminal is held b y the arm h of the other connecting-strips, and as said arms are ence in length beforement-ioned, the erms l will bebrought into proper position withbnt danger of contact with the opposite terminal,

The linp employed is preferably one in which the contact is made through the coller for one leading-in Wire and through a central stud or projection for the other leading-in wire, and when passed into the socket the proper connectionsnre made, ns will be readily understood.

To prevent any possibility of a short circuit being formed through the cap-pieces or casing, they may be lined in yevery instance, or, it desired, formed of non-conducting inaterial, although it- \vi1l generally be found sutficient to employ in addition to that already mentioned simply 'an insulating-disk Q within the top casing to hold the terminals and switch-arms away from the casing. The device as thus mede is entirely inclosed, the screw and switch stem only projecting through the casing et one end, both otxvhich are provided with suit-able operating-handles,

wheel Ds and that on the switch-stema simple. handle G3, the device appearing ns shown in Fig. 1.

W'e prefer to employ a barrel or body formed of insulating substances-suchas wood, vnlcanizgd lfiber, rubber, glass,0r equivalentund in case the seme varies in size or is at all irregular it may be set forward in the cas-. ing or caps by means of the set-screws S, passing through the bottom cap or e` plate S within the semefnnd bearing against the bottom of the barrel, and tohold the bridge out of mica or non-conductor e8 ispleced beneath the same, Fig. 3.

It is obvious that the device is capable of in set forth-for instance, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, it is adapted for employment as a rheost-at device and may be placed in circuitcuit connections being, as shown .in Fig. 10, with the contact or terminal f, passed way around the edge ofthe barrel, (see Fig. 11,) and thence ott tothe lamp, the other termina-l of thellamp being connected directly in line, and, if desired, as' shownl in said Fig 10, e. branch of the other line-wire 'may extend directlyto the lamp to cut the rheostntic device ontentirely when the lampswitch g is shifted terminal. l-Vhen this form of device is employed, the clamping-bands are provided with bracket-arms R, which are adapted to be fest- -By referring to Figs. 13 and 1.4i. it willbo seen that instead ot :t switch having rigidl sirius, the arm g', operating the Contact conlimited independent movement, regulated by the shoulders g5 on the arm g, which latter is rigidly 'secured 'to the pintie, us in the formerinstancc. This construction, it will be seen, enables us to operato the line-contact erin without dnngervot stopping at the point Where sparking or leakage would occur, inas- -lunch as the moment the erin g is moved beyond its center the spring throws it tothe other extreme et its movement with relationv to erm g and breaks the contact suddenly.

In the practical operation of the device none of the internal parts need be touched, nd in putting the device in circuit the electrician or lineman needsimply loosen thev screws h and make the proper line connections, et once covering up the points with the cap-plates, where they ere ont of harms wey.

V'lhen to regulate the passage of current through the device itis only necessary to conipress the resistance medium by means ot the hund-wheel and operate the switch to make the proper connections through the device.

Devices constructed in accordance with the present invention present little or no oppou tunity for the leakage of current of less quantity than would be observed in ra lamp, owing to the fact that the circuit is absolutely interrupted by a switch withontthe necessity ot manipulating the screw at ell when the device has once been properly regulated, although the hand-wheel presents a most ready and convenient means for regulating the intensity of the light at will, and, if desired, interrupting the circuit entirely; but we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the use of the particular substances mentioned for coating or impregnating the fiber, inasmuch as this niay be accomplished in various ways.' Perhaps the most effective manner ot accomplishing the desired result is to heut the fiber `with a volatilizuble metal in a powdered state combined with a zinc or other oxide. Then expose the treated iibcrto the fumes ofv sulphur. f Excellent results have been secured by treating the fiber with metallic bisand oxide of zinc to cause the seme to adhere to the fibers and reduce the conductivity of the graphite, the resulting fibrous substance forming at once a most perfect resistance mcdium, and at the sume tiuie one which is not effected by heat and has a very wide range of compression. The fibrous body may consist of ordinary asbestos fabric-such as wiel@ ing-which has been treated With a conductive substance und where littlecnductivity is wanted the outer fibers only of the inbric may be treated, and when the fabric is coiled in the barrel an attenuated course for the current is fornied,while the remainder ot the mess serves to absorb tho heat generated, and which might otherwise be harmful.

It is obvious that the harmful iniiuence of heet generated in the resistance historial muy lOO ninth, oxide ofzinc, and sulphur, also by trcatying the fibers with a compound of graphite be obviaied by scoring, perfor-ating, or other- .i i estese wisc forming airspaccs in the casing' in the ordinary Well-understood manner, although, es before stated, we prefer to form the entire device of material unaffected by licat and inclosed in a solid metallic casing.

Having thus described our invention, what ive claim -as nenr is- 1. A resistance for rheostals, composed of relatively long elastic fibers coated with a conducting substance, substantially as described. Y

2. A resistance medium for rheostats, coni- 'posed of relatively longV fibers of. n sbestusA coated )tithe/graphit@substantially as described.

3. A resistance medium for rheostats, composed of... rsbcstns ,fabric coated with a conducting substance, substantially described.

4. In a rheostat, the combination, with the barrel or receptacle having the conductingplnte at the bottom-of the resistance medium composed of the relatively long elastic fibers and conducting substance carried thereby, and the adjustable conducting-plate overlying said medium, substantially as described.

5. 1n a rheostat, the combination, with the barrel or receptacle having the resistance medinrn therein, of Jdie screw for varying the resistance of the medium. the bridge carrying the screw, and the key for controlling the fiow of current through the medium journaled in the bridge, substantially as described.

6.V In a rheostat, the combination, with the barrel or receptaclciieving the resistance niedinni therein, and means for varying,r the resistance, ci the connecting-strips and contacts held in recesses in the Wall of the barrel, and

the swih within the barrel, substantially as described. Y

7. In a rheosta',thecombinatiom with theV of the contact-strips held in said recesses, and

the connector-strips for the terminals of the leading-in wires, substantially as described.

8; ln a rheostanthe combination', with the barrelor receptacle containing the resistance medium and the conducting-plate overlying .the same, of the non-conducting coinprcssor- ."plate overlying the conducting-plate, and the conducting-stud therein through which `the I. circnit is established, substantially as described.

9. In a rheosteintho combination, with the barrel or receptacle containing the resistance medium and havingthe longitudinal recesses. in the ontei' surface, of the connector-strips lying iii-,said recesses, tbe contacts, and the inclosing casing for holding said strips in place, whereby the strips are permitted a limited longitudinal movement, Substantially as described. 5

10. in a regulator euch as described, the

' combination, with the cyiindricnl receptacle containing the resistance medium, the. screw for compressing the ssin'c projecting at the the receptacle, of the clamping-strips passing around the receptacle, and the cap-pieces or covers for the connectors held by said strips, substantially as described.

1l.A ln a rlieostat, the combination, with the receptacle containing the resistance medium, the adjustable contact-plato overlying said mcdiu'm, the screw for adjusting said plate, and the bridge or support for the screw, of the leading-in Wire having a branch in electrical connection with the bottom of the resistance .medium and abranch terminating in a switcln contact, a switch-contact in electrical connection with the contactlplate at the opposite end of the medium,a co-operatin g line-contact, and a switch engaging said contacts to establish the circuit through' the resistance medium or around the same, as may be desired, substantially as described.

12. In a rheostat, the combination, with the barrel or receptacle containing the resistance medium, the screw for compressing said inedium, the bridge carrying the screw, and the two spring-switch arms and the switch jonrnaled in said bridge, of the leading-in wire lia-ving a branch passing to one end of the resistance medium and a branch terminating in a contact in position to co-opcrate with the spring-arm last operated, and a line-Wire con tact in position to engage the spring-arm first operated, whereby the current may be established through the resistance medium or around the same, substantially as described;

13. n a rheostat, the combination, with the barrel or receptacle containing theresistance medium, of the casings or caps inclosing said receptacle, and the central clamping-strips for holding seid caps in position, substantially as described. Y

14. In a rheostat, the combination, with the barrel or receptacle for the resistance medium, the connector-strips .on the outside ILO of the same, and the 'caps or casings inclostact-arm for cutting ont the derived circuit,-

and a loose erm carried by tlierlrey and having a slight independent movement for oper ating said contactfarm, substantially as' de scribed.

16.111 n regulator, the combination, with the resistance and the linecontacts, of the two spring switch-arms engaging said contacts, respectively, the key having the rigid,

arm engaging one of seid spring-arms, and

the loose arm mounted on said key and enfgaging the other spring-arm, with the shoulders on tho rigid arm for moving the loose arm, substantially es described.

17. A resistance medium iorrlieosiats, composed of fibers of noncouducting substance treated with graphite and oxide of zinc,.subl s tantially as described. v

18. A resietance m edium for rheostats,co1n posed of fibrousasbestuscoced witlrecompound of graphiteend oxideor ziic, substantielly es described. ""1" 19. A resistance medium for rheostate, composed of asbestos fabric treated with graphite and e metallic conductor, substantially as described.

20. In e. regulator such as described, the combination, with the device to be governed and a direct circuit, a. resistance medium 1ocated in a branch circuit, and contact-arms inzo eluded in the branch and direct circuis respectively, of a. key or switch cooperating with and operating the contact-arm to esteblisli the branch circuit. and the conieceerm to establish the direct circuit, successively, whereby the current through the device to be governed may be manipulated through three stages-i. e., full through the resistance end 'oi by o. single movement of thekey, snosran-v 

